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Much like this concoction, I can’t seem to make up my mind. It’s a Monster drink, but it’s not filled with the ingredients that makes one uncomfortably energetic. In fact, drinking this one on a Wednesday may’ve been a bad, bold move in the wrong direction for me. It was undoubtedly refreshing, even if the tea aspect made me race like a piss horse some time after consumption.

How undignified…

Oh, it’s you again. Wait, you’re not yelling this time.

I’m too damn tired to yell. How am I even typing this?

Why are you even here? Do you have anything to contribute this time?

Yes, I do. This drink IS refreshing. It is sitting on the white porch or veranda, wearing overalls and a straw hat, on a summer day kind of refreshing.

Well, that’s quite the image you’ve just painted. We’re we not driving to work while drinking this stuff? I seem to recall we were. I also seem to recall it was more of a Lemonade in flavour than a tea. The tea was there, but not as strong. More of an after-taste really.

The lemonade was the refreshing part. Who the hell drinks tea on a veranda?

Just about anyone that would have a veranda, I imagine.

I was painting a mental picture here of the level of refreshing. Jeez, don’t you understand metaphors and such?

Whatever. Let’s move on, shall we?

As mentioned, the flavour of this particular Monster is somewhat interesting; it being definitely lemonade, and not quite a tea. That brings us to the other factor at play here. This drink is from their REHAB line, which is decidedly not energy drink-like. The marketable idea behind this drink is that it’s for rehabilitation. It’s meant to be refreshing. It’s meant to rehydrate the drinker. It’s meant to be a different kind of awesome.

And for the most part it is.

Except for the fact that we were super exhausted hours later after consuming. That was a new kind of golgotha, in case you forgot.

No, I didn’t. And that’s likely because of the different ingredients in this one. Instead of guarana and taurine, they load this one up with other things, like garcinia camboga. That’s supposed to be some sort of appetite suppressant/weight loss thing. Which, as far as I’m concerned, makes no sense whatsoever. You’d think that you’d want to avoid suppressing your appetite if you’re trying to rehydrate. (Note: they still put taurine in it, it just seems to have less of an effect on me without the other stuff).

Are we going to rate this one?

Sure, why not. I give it a 3.5 out of 5. It’s good, but not good enough for me to go back for multiple cans. It’s more like an option for an occasional change-up or treat, instead of a reliable energy drink.

To be honest, I’m not sure what the Ultra refers to in this drink’s name. If the colour of the can, then I don’t see it. If the colour of the drink itself, I don’t see that either, but that’s because it goes from can, straight into my mouth.

As far as I can recall, I have never worked nine-to-five. Not, in the exact, traditional sense at least. I have worked a variety of schedules over the past 10 years or so. But none have been nine to five. I have worked 14:30 to 22:00. I have worked 06:00 to 14:30. I have worked 08:00 to 16:00. Now, I work 22:00 to 06:00.

These hours, for the most part, are less than desirable for the greater population. I work them, because I have to, want to and need to.

I recently started a new job with an amazing Canadian outdoor/lifestyle company that specializes in healthy active living. They even go so far as to incorporate green features into their operations. Being a retailer, most employees are ecstatic about the awesome discounts and deals we’re privy to. Me, being more mature in my needs, prefer the greater scope of the company’s dealings with regards how the conduct themselves and treat their employees and clientele.

As a result of my taking on this new job and it’s hours, I have gone back to tried and true, store-purchasable liquid stimulants: Energy drinks. Discussing my options of how to use my free time, I’ve decided to write in my blog, reviews of each drink that graces my taste buds and digestive tract.

First should be Red Rain Sugarfree.

Assessment: Oh my god… why did I try this one first? What the hell is wrong with me? I’d like to lose some weight, but is this really the way to do it? I can taste the plastic! Wait? This is in a metal can! Dear god… why? Maybe I should try this one again later.

It’s that wonderful time of the year, when the CNE wraps things up with the Canadian International Air Show; where the skies over Toronto’s lakeshore are filled with aircraft of varying types, rather than the usual turboprop commuter planes.

CC-130J Hercules – Canada’s answer to getting relief supplies to people in need

Out of the 26 aircraft in the show this year, the sum total of fighter jets and bombers: TWO. That’s right folks. That’s two fighter jets and ZERO bombers. The rest of the planes are classic airplanes, trainers or part of aerobatic demonstration teams. The closest thing to a bomber in the airshow is actually a CARGO plane, that Canada uses for relief efforts across the globe.

Life over the last few months has been full of obstacles, insofar as maintaining a blog goes. One of the biggest pieces of advice given to me when I went back to school for Corporate Comm, is “Never stop writing”. Great advice if nothing else gets in the way, like responsibilities and horribly frustrating commutes from work. [I have been fortunate that drives in are smooth]

I’ve been relegated to banging out cookie-cutter emails for the last two years and it has killed my ability to write creatively. Not so much in a way like a never-ending writer’s block, no. But the block is mental and it is more in the way of just not having the desire to put my hands on the keyboard. Though, aforementioned commutes don’t enhance this much more. And at least, when I bang out cookie-cutter emails, I avoid poor wording choices like “Presently”, “Momentarily” and “Utilize”. (FTR: the correct words are “currently’, “in a moment” and “use”.)

I really do miss writing and being able to write. But, content is king and I have got much to say these days.

“You don’t make art out of good intentions.” ~Gustave Flaubert

Though, this has not stopped me from coming up with hilarious one-liners on social media. In the land of 140 character limits, brevity is king. I think I need to go tweet that now.

I also need to go drum-up a list of ideas of things to write about. I need to sharpen my pencil, so to speak.
Like they say on Imgur.
OBLIGATORY CAT TAX

Every family has its funny small child story (or maybe a few even). One within mine, was “goddamn fly”.

The story goes that one of my francophone cousins, who hadn’t been taught any English yet, learned “goddamnfly” from my uncle, who was bilingual. My cousin, unaware of the name for flying house pests most likely assumed, at his very young age, that was what there were called. Why? Because that’s what my uncle would call them when they buzzed around the house, landing on potato salads and the like.

So, the kid picked up that name and would point out a fly buzzing around the house, while exclaiming “Papa! GODDAMNFLY!”

I bring this up because it is summer and, we have a tendency to leave windows open and leave food out. This attracts flies, but not the kind that inspired the story above. No, the flies of discussion today are the miniature ruiners of fresh produce: the minuscule fruit fly.

Like many others, we’ve become annoyed by these little flying pests.

Well, I’ve become annoyed too much. Time to strike back!
IT’S A TRAP!

Searching the interwebz for a quick and easy solution, I have found a relatively easy DIY project.

All you need is a mason jar, apple cider vinegar, a piece of paper, scotch and masking tape, and a drop of dish soap.

Step one: assemble your parts. Find a half-liter mason jar and fill it with about an inch of the vinegar. Drop in your dish soap.

Step two: fold a piece of paper in half. Now make it into a funnel shape and tape it.

Step three: put your funnel in the mouth of the mason jar and then secure it with the masking tape.

Step four: place your fruit fly death trap somewhere convenient to them, but out of the way for you.

I just put one of these traps together. So while I’ve been typing this up, I have begun my wait. Come my ugly little pretties… come and DIE!
As a side note, apparently these wee nasties like sink drains and garbage receptacles, so clean those before you employ the trap. Run hot water on sink for a minute and then pour in baking soda. Then pour in vinegar, let it do its thing, and 2-5min later run more hot water. Use whatever works for you on garbage can.